Stroopwafel Granola

I remember that when I was a kid I didn’t get my mother’s morning routine. She would sit at the table hidden behind the newspaper and when I tried to talk to her she would say: “Please, can you wait until I have had my coffee?” I think I still tried to talk to her all the time and I would always get this and only this answer. I remember that I had no idea what was going on. I mean, I could talk to her without having a coffee!

Today I do understand. Because every morning we have to get up way too early for me. I try to follow my routine while still half asleep: Dress, get the kid dressed, send her off to daycare. Get to work. Thankfully there usually is a gap between “send the kid to daycare” and “get to work”. Things slow down and I sit in the kitchen, stare around, and wait for my coffee to be ready.

Sometimes sitting around and staring at thingsis a good thing. One day I looked at a package of stroopwafels (Dutch syrup waffles). They are one of my favourite treats and vegan versions are widely available here. I always wanted to make my own version. But these waffles are made in a stroopwafel iron and those are hard to find. And even if I would find one, would I really need it? To make these waffles once or twice a year? Of course not. So I thought about making them in the oven. Probably that would not work. But putting my prepackaged stroopwafels into a baked granola would work! And I am glad I tried this out because the recipe is my favourite granola recipe now. The stroopwafel flavour is enhanced by cinnamon and supplemented by lots of roasting flavours and of course this would be perfect with a cup of coffee. It also makes a great snack or food present, too.

Tip: You can swap many ingredients; for example almonds for hazelnuts, almond or cashew butter for hazelnut butter, flax for chia, and so on.

Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix well. Evenly spread on the baking sheet and bake for 15-18 minutes or until golden brown. Stir once or twice. Let cool completely and transfer to a glass container with a lid.

You’ve just come up with the answer to my stroopwafeling prayers: I eyed those a lot while in Switzerland, but didn’t manage to find one of the vegan versions. Plus, stroopwafel is funny to say. I might call my next cat that.

I totally feel your Mom’s routine! I’m a grouch before my coffee. I’m actually trying to lessen my emotional dependance on coffee and have been going for tea instead. Still though. There are some mornings where conversations aren’t going to happen until I get my morning cup.

Oh my goodness, what a deliciously wonderful idea! My boyfriend absolutely LOVES stroopwafels (and I am quite partial to them myself!) I will have to try and seek out a vegan version here so I can make this for him one breakfast. I thought one of the supermarkets here sold vegan ones, but last time I bought my boyfriend some we read the label and they weren’t at all – I could have sworn I had checked them before too. But yes, I’ll have to keep looking so I can eat this brekkie! X

Wow, this granola looks like a party in your mouth! I’ve never had a vegan stroopwafel. I’ll have to keep an eye out for those. If you ever do decide to invest in a stroopwafel iron, I would be more than grateful if you would post a vegan stroopwafel recipe :)